Registered nurses have various motivations for wanting to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree quickly. Some may want to become eligible for positions that require BSN degrees, such as school nurse, military nurse or a nursing role in a Magnet hospital.
Others may be setting their sights on the higher salary that comes with a BSN. ZipRecruiter reports that the average annual salary for RNs with a BSN degree ranges from $61,686 in North Carolina to $87,234 in New York. Salaries for RNs with an associate degree (ADN) ranged from $51,487 to $72,811 (North Carolina and New York, respectively). Salary figures are as of January 2020.
Regardless of the reason, RNs have a number of options for completing an RN to BSN program in a timely manner.
Expedited Education: Benefits of an Online RN to BSN Program
Online RN to BSN programs have made it more convenient for RN students to earn their BSN, but that’s not the only benefit. On-campus classes may present scheduling conflicts, forcing students to wait until the next quarter or semester to progress through the program. Some online programs are even structured to prevent a “fast-track” approach.
With an expedited online program, students are able to select as many courses as they can effectively manage. At the University of Texas – Arlington (UTA), all of the online courses in the RN to BSN program are considered “accelerated,” with nursing courses ranging from five to eight weeks in length.
If no general education courses are required, students can finish the program in as few as nine months. Should additional general course credits or elective credits be necessary, students can still structure their course load to move quickly through the program.
Will My Prior Education Count Toward the BSN Degree?
If RN students have fulfilled course requirements at another academic institution, they may be able to receive credit for those completed classes. Being able to transfer previously completed course credits to UTA not only allows for a streamlined program track, it also reduces the cost of the program. Students can provide transcripts from their previous schools for consideration to check if credits for any of their previous courses align with program requirements.
No Better Time Than Now
There is no better time for RNs to invest in a BSN degree. New York State recently passed the “BSN in 10” law, which requires nurses earn a BSN within 10 years of licensure, and other states are likely to follow. Even if not required by law, employers are increasingly preferring candidates who have a BSN when making hiring decisions. In as little as nine months’ time, you could be one of those candidates.
Learn more about UTA’s online RN to BSN program.
Sources:
ZipRecruiter: Average BSN Nurse Salary by State
ZipRecruiter: Average ADN Nurse Salary by State
Nurse.com: New York Governor Signs BSN in 10 Into Law for Nurses
